Get ready for treatment
What to expect
Getting started with once-monthly SUBLOCADE.
If you're considering starting SUBLOCADE or have already made the decision to start, you may be wondering what's next.
What to Expect
SUBLOCADE is an injection of a medicine called buprenorphine. It is administered once a month by a treatment provider.
Once injected, it continuously releases medication all month long.
The SUBLOCADE treatment journey
What to expect during your appointment
Your treatment provider will administer your SUBLOCADE injection under the skin (subcutaneous) in one of 4 locations: abdomen, thigh, buttock, or back of the upper arm.
Injection sites should be rotated each month.
You may feel or see a small bump under the skin at the injection site for several weeks. This is normal. The bump releases medicine throughout the month and will slowly get smaller. Do not rub or massage the injection site, and make sure restrictive clothing such as belts, waistbands, or sleeves don’t rub against the area. Talk to your treatment provider if you have questions about the size of the bump.
Beginning your SUBLOCADE treatment
Your treatment provider will start with a 300 mg dose to help the medication reach an effective level in your body.
- If you are already taking buprenorphine, you can transition directly to SUBLOCADE and receive your first dose of SUBLOCADE in your treatment provider’s office
- If you are not taking buprenorphine, you will first receive a small dose of buprenorphine (under your tongue or in your cheek) to ensure you can tolerate the medicine. Your doctor will monitor your response over a 1-hour period. If you respond well, you can receive your first injection of SUBLOCADE (300 mg) the same day
You can get your second injection as early as 1 week and up to 1 month after the first injection. Receiving your second injection about a week after your first may help you reach (and maintain) target levels of buprenorphine earlier than waiting a month.
Staying on track with monthly dosing
After your first two injections of 300 mg, you'll receive ongoing injections once a month (there will be at least 26 days between doses). The recommended monthly dose of SUBLOCADE is 100 mg, but your doctor might adjust it to 300 mg based on how your body responds. Both monthly dose options provide sufficient and sustained amounts of medicine.
Talk with your doctor about the dosing schedule that's right for you.
Visit your treatment provider as soon as you can if you miss a dose. An occasional delay of up to 2 weeks may not impact your treatment.
Find a SUBLOCADE treatment provider
For more information on how to find a facility, call INSUPPORT® at 1-844-467-7778.
Stay committed
It may take time for your brain to reset and for you to make healthy changes. Be patient and stay with your treatment plan. Don’t give up.
If you experience a slip-up and use illicit opioids while on SUBLOCADE, talk to your treatment provider. Because buprenorphine blocks the rewarding effects of opioids,* continued opioid use can become less appealing.
The journey towards recovery is different for everyone. Some people may experience relapse. If this happens to you, treatment can be restarted. You can keep moving towards recovery.
Tell your treatment provider about your goals, so you can work together to decide the length of treatment.
*In a 12-week study of 39 non-treatment-seeking adults, SUBLOCADE blocked the rewarding effects of an opioid.
Save on SUBLOCADE
For most people with insurance, SUBLOCADE is covered. Check with your insurance provider for more details.
